DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Neuro-Oncology

Research Abstract

Functional MR Imaging of Childhood Brain Neoplasms
The broad, long-term objectives of the project are to improve survival and quality of life of children with brain neoplasms by tailoring existing treatment protocols for individual patients according to functional characteristics of neoplasms. The specific aims of the research will test the overall hypothesis that functional MR Imaging of childhood brain neoplasms of neuroepithelial origin specifically MR Spectroscopy (MRS) combined with hemodynamic MR imaging (HMRI) and diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWMRI) will enable us to predict likelihood of active tumor growth and evaluate response of brain tumors to therapy. The health relatedness of the project is that according to the latest Cancer Statistics Review, the incidence of cancer in the United States among children less than 15 years of age has risen. In the 1980's childhood brain tumors became the leading cause of death among children with cancer and caused more deaths than childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Given the difficulties with sequential biopsy of brain tumors in children to monitor response to therapy, non-invasive and non-irradiating imaging methods are needed to provide more indices than simple tumor volume measurements. The research design and methods present a new and rigorous approach to the specific aims of the project allowing direct correlation of in vivo/ex vivo MR and neuropathological data of the same location within the tumor. The study does not require controls. MR studies will be performed on patients preoperatively and subsequently these patients will be studied serially. Apart from conventional MRI methods, in vivo and ex vivo proton MRS, HMRI and DWMRI will permit measurements of: (1) biochemical indices related to biologically important metabolites including n-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), total creatine (tCr) and lactic acid or lipid (L), detected with proton MRS; (2) indices related to cerebral blood volume and flow and (3) tissue water diffusion co-efficients will be performed.

Publications

• Marcus KJ, Astrakas LG, Zurakowski D, Zarifi MK, Mintzopoulos D, Poussaint TY, Anthony DC, De Girolami U, Black PM, Tarbell NJ, Tzika AA.Predicting survival of children with CNS tumors using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging biomarkers.Int J
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• Astrakas L, Ye S, Zarifi M, Makedon F, Tzika AA.The clinical perspective of large scale projects: a case study of multiparametric MR imaging of pediatric brain tumors.Oncol Rep 2006;15 Spec no.:1065-9.
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